Bale-band tightener.



I' N0. 658,875. n Patented DCL -2, |900. F. SPLETISTOSSER.

BALE BAND ITIGHTENER.

(Applicziqn med Mayes, 1900.)

(No Model.)

, l S14/newton En' s mmm/.a

YNITE t STATES PATENT FFIC.

FRITZ SPLETTSTOSSE, OF STRYKER, TEXAS;

SALE-BAND TIGHTNEFi.

SPEIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,875, dated October 2, 19.

Application filed May 23, 1900. Serial lim-17,758. dio model.;

To all whom t may concern:

-Be it known that I, FRITZ SPLE'rTsTossER,

a subject of the Emperor of Germany, resid; Y

ing at Stryker, in the county of Polk and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bale-Band Tighteners,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bale-band tighteners, especially adapted for use in binding cotton-bales, te., and its primary object is to provide a device of simple construction which may be readily attached to a strap or tie and whereby the ends thereof may be quickly drawn together and secured in such position.

To these ends the invention consists of a lever having a convex end and provided with an arm which is pivoted to the lever at a point between its ends and having at its free end a lateral extension recessed in a peculiar manner for the reception of the buckle or enlarged end of the strap or tie.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a cottonbale, showing the stretcher in use., Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the lever and its depending arm. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the free end ofthe arm and its lateral extension, and Fig. 4 is a transverse section through said extension.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, l is a lever of any desired form and material and having one end thereof convexed or upwardly curved, as shown at 2. Pivoted to the lever, on opposite sides thereof adjacent to this end, are ears 3, formed on the end of an arm 4:, which extends from the lever for a suitable distance and is provided at its free end with a lateral extension 5 of any desired construction and preferably thickened at its upper edge, as shown at 6. This thickened portion is provided with a recess 7 Within the upper edge thereof, and a slot 8 is formed within the rear wall thereof, the lower end of said slot being preferably downwardly inclined, as shown at 9, to prevent injury to the strap or tie engaged by the extension.

In operation a strap or tie, as l0, is placed around the article to be bound and the buckle 1l thereof, which is of greater width than the slot 8, is placed within the recess 7. The end 2 of the lever l is then placed upon that portion of the strap lying upon one of the surfaces of the article to be bound, and the lever is then drawn upward, its end 2 serving as a fulcrum. This will cause the arm 4 to be moved upward, carrying therewith the buckle ll, and as the portion of the strap which serves asa bearing for the lever is held in au immovable position thereby the strap or tie will obviously be drawn tightly about the bale or other article inclosed thereby, and the free end of said strap may then be readily insel-ted into the buckle ll and secured in such position. The tool may then be removed by sliding the same away from the buckle and permitting the removal of the strap 10 through the slot 8 of the extension.

While this device is especially adapted for use in binding bales, te., it is obvious that the same may also be employed to remove the strain upon the buckle when itis desired to unfasten the strap.

It will be seen that by employing a device of the character herein described bands may be readily tightened about cotton-bales and retain them in shape after leaving the press, and will thereby prevent tearing of the bagging, as has heretofore occurred, through the expansion of the cotton.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make suoli changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described myinvention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a bale-band tightener, the combination with a lever having a convex end; of an arm pivoted to the lever; and a lateral extension to said arm having a recess therein, said IOO recess having a transverse slot within the of one of the sides of the recess, the end wail center of one of the side Walls thereof. of said slot being inclined. xo

2. In a baie-band tightener, the combina- In testimony whereof I afx my signature tion With a lever and having a recess therein; in presence of two witnesses. 5 of a convex end thereto; an arm pivoted to FRITZ SPLE'ITSTOSSER.

the lever; a lateral extension to the arm; and Witnesses: at recessed thickened portion to the extension W. H. KENNEDY,

having@ transverse slot therein at the center D. A. ROWE. 

